Alick and Karen, who run Rugbytots in SE Cheshire and Staffordshire, were 2 of the first people I met when I started Mumbling. They talked so passionately about the classes and what they do I was keen to see what it was all about and so took Mini Mumbler along to a session at Macclesfield Leisure Centre. Whilst I love all the little singing, sensory and dancing groups I take the minis to, I was looking forward to doing something a bit different. Here’s how we got on….
When we arrived, Alick explained that for this age group (2-3.5), the sessions weren’t about producing rugby players. They were about introducing the tots to some of the principles running through rugby but important in all walks of life – team work, respect and discipline for example – through play. As is to be expected, the class was pretty active with the little ones turning their hands to everything from passing the rugby ball, to running games, to obstacle courses. One thing I hadn’t expected was how educational the session would be – Alick introduced an element of learning into almost every game with the kids being asked to find spots of a particular colour or shape to run to (with a bit of help from Alick/Karen and their grown ups), place different body parts on the spots, and practice their colours again when collecting in the plastic cones. It was a really clever, fun way for them to learn without them knowing they were learning…!
The session was big on discipline and team work, without being overbearing. The little ones refer to Alick as ‘Sir’ and are encouraged to listen carefully to the instructions and only start on ‘Sir’s’ whistle. It took Mini Mumbler a few goes and a fair few false starts to grasp this but we got there in the end (sort of!) The little ones (and grown ups!) encouraged and cheered each other on during the games and at the end of the session the tots shook each others hand before going home. I was really impressed by how Rugbytots manages to teach the little ones really important values in such a fun, engaging way.
Alick has won loads of awards for his coaching and its easy to see why – the class was energetic, educational, informative but above all great fun. He controlled and steered the activities effortlessly to ensure everyone was involved and got the most out of the session – no easy task with a room full of 2 year olds! Mini Mumbler can be pretty shy and I think its testament to Alick and Karen that by the end of the class she was getting thoroughly stuck in and high fiving them as she passed!! She was on a high for the rest of the day and had such a great time we’ve signed her up for next term! Pregnant Mummy Mumbler on the other hand was absolutely exhausted and needed a lie down…….
Rugbytots SE Cheshire and Staffordshire run classes throughout the area. To find out more and book, visit their website or Facebook page.
We attended the Rugbytots class free for the purposes of this review but all the opinions (and sweat in my case) are entirely our own.